Section 691.220  Startup Grants Program Eligibility

A business applying for the Startup Grants Program must be an independently owned and operated for-profit corporation, a limited liability corporation, a partnership, a non-profit organization or a sole proprietorship authorized to conduct business and operating in the State of Illinois. To be eligible, the business must be either (1) operating in a hard-hit industry, or (2) majority-owned by an individual or individuals that became unemployed between March 13, 2020, and the date that the business started operations. All ineligible businesses listed in Subpart A (see Section 691.70(c) and (d)) are also ineligible to apply under the Startup Grants Program, except for businesses that derive a majority of their income as an owner of real property that leases that property to a tenant or tenants under a lease agreement (see Section 691.70(c)(9)); and employment agencies (see Section 691.70(c)(15)).  Businesses that operate COVID-19 testing sites or COVID-19 vaccine distribution sites primarily, and businesses that previously received a Back to Business or Business Interruption Grant, are ineligible to apply for the Startup Grants Program. To be eligible, all applicants that incorporated (or for businesses not required to incorporate, began operating) between January 1, 2020 and the date of application submission, shall have earned less than $20 million in gross operating revenue for 2021. If the business incorporated (or for businesses not required to incorporate, began operating) starting January 1, 2021 or later, to be eligible, a pro-rated amount of the applicant's earnings in 2021 must equate to less than $20 million in gross operating revenue based on the number of days in operation when extrapolated for a full year.

(Source:  Added at 47 Ill. Reg. 3723, effective March 1, 2023)